Means for electrical therapy



Feb. 9, 1954 w. J. BROWNER MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL THERAPY Filed Sept. 19, 1949 ll|| l I INVENTOR. WILLIAM J. BROWNER BY 3 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL THERAPY Application September 19, 1949, Serial No.'1.16,552 1.3 Claims. (01. 128-423) 1 My invention relates to elec ical therapy for stimulation of the tissues of the human body and for producing muscular response and contraction for the purpose of improving the tone and general health of bodily parts. The invention relates in particular to a means and method "for producing an electrical current very similar in wave form to bodily nerve currents.

It is an object of the invention to produce a therapeutic current of great effectiveness. This current is characterized by ability to give exceptionally good muscular response or contraction from an extremely low current value, and without burning or stinging sensations where the electrodes engage surfaces of the body.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of extremely simple form and'ruggedness which has therein a novel cooperation of parts resulting in the production of an improvement in the therapeutic and contractile current. In this "device, I am able to use the simplest of electronic tubes and a minimum of parts which will cooperate with the tubes to produce oscillator circuits, which circuits are characterized by their ability to produce the effective wave form referred to herein.

It is an object of the invention to produce a therapeutic device having simple means for controlling the rates of impulse delivery or the socalled off and on periods, during which the therapeutic current is applied. For example, the simple means shown herein provides a knob which may in one position of adjustment cause the device to intermittently deliver the therapeutic current at a rate of 40 cycles per minute, and by another position of adjustment cause the device to deliver the therapeutic current intermittently at a rate of '20 cycles per minute.

A further object of the invention is 'to provide a device which will not only deliver a contractile current, but also a characteristic vibratory-current.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a device having current delivering means for energizing output circuits in alternate or flexioneextension relation for improved therapeutic efiect. It is possible by the use of my device to energize opposing tissues or muscles in alternate relation, thereby producing results which cannot be obtained without thissequential application of therapeutic effect. In my present device, one circuit energizes a selected portion of the body while another circuit is inactive. This order is then reversed so that the first'named portion of the body is deenergized, or permitted to relax, while a second circuit is employed on an adjacent or related portion of the body. By the arrangement described in the foregoing, movement of bodily parts back and forth can be obtained in a manner to assist in recovery of the use of bodily parts rendered inactive by afilictions. Also, by the use of the device postural corrections and compensations are relatively rapidly and efiectively made, and muscular tone is improved so that there is a correction of sagginess and fiabbiness of bodily parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a multiple outlet therapeutic device of the character described, wherein a plurality of output circuits are supplied by a single oscillator and wherein each of the output circuits may be individually adjusted as to current strength without changing the current strength or potential in the remaining output circuits. This feature of the invention is of material importance since, in the useof my device, it is possible to turn down, or off, one of the output circuits without a rise in voltage in the remaining circuits which would produce discomfort of the patient.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the'following part of the specification wherein I have described only a preferred embodiment of my invention for the purpose of making a complete disclosure without limiting the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims, with the understanding that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the substance of I the invention.

Referring to the drawing which schematically shcwsa preferred embodiment of the invention, I have for easy understanding of the invention divided it into six units identified in six dottedline rectangles, these units or parts being power input circuit 1, control circuit 2, left and right oscillator circuits 3 and 4, and left and right-output circuits 5 and 6. The power circuit l is energized from conductors and 8 adapted to be connected to a commercial power system. The

power lines 1 and 8 are connected to an auto- =transformer 9 through conductors I l and 12 under control of a switch I ll. The auto-transformer .9 has series connected windings or winding sections l3, l4 and 15, the conductors H and 42 being connected to the ends of the winding or coil M which then constitutes the primary of the auto-transformer 9.

The oscillators .3 and 4 include simple triode tubes. is and ll, which'may be of theinexpensive and rugged type 45. The filaments of these triodes l6 and I! are energized from the coil section l3 of the auto-transformer 9, at a potential of 2 /2 volts, through conductors l8, I9, 20 and 2|. A motor 22 is conducted across the conductors and I2 so as to be energized when the switch I is turned on. This motor 22 is preferably of the brushless fractional horsepower synchronous type, and through a shaft means 22a is adapted to revolve a cam or eccentric associated with the control circuit 2 of the device. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the cam 25, which is insulated, is revolved at R. P. M., it being understood that other speeds may be employed as desired. The cam 25 is adapted to close and open the contacts of a switch device S.

The switch device S has, as schematically indicated, a base or support 26 carrying a spring contact 24 arranged to be directly moved by the cam 25, and contacts 21, 28 and 29. Tension in the spring portion of the contact 24 tends to move it into engagement with the contact 21. The cam '25 is shown divided into sections a, b, c, and

the section a of the cam 25 being closest to the center of rotation of the cam and permitting the contact 24 to rest in engagement with the contact 21. Assuming that the cam 25 is rotating in clockwise direction, from the position in which it is shown in the drawing, engagement-of section b with the contact 24 will move the same leftwardly out of engagement with contact 21. When substantially the center of the section b engages the contact 24, the contact 24 will have been moved into engagement with contact 28. As clockwise rotation of the cam 25 is continued the cam will move contact 24 further in leftward direction, contact 24 then transmitting leftward movement to contact 28. By the time the front end 0 of section 25 is brought into engagement ,with contact 24, contact 28 will engage contact 29 and this engagement between contacts 28 and 29 will be maintained until the end of section 0 moves out of engagement with contact 24. Then, as section 01 moves across the face of contact 24, this contact 24 will move out of engagement with contact 28 and when the end of section 41 moves from engagement with contact 24, this contact 24 will engage contact 21, and this engagement of contact 24 with contact 21 will be maintained while section a of the cam 25 is moving across the face of contact 24. The contacts 24, 21, 28 and 29 are so placed with relation to each other and to the cam 25 thatcontact 24 will engage contact 21 through a period of time corresponding to of the revolution of the cam 25, contact 24 will be in engagement with contact 28 for a period of time corresponding to substantially the revolution of cam 25, and contact 28 will be in engagement with contact 29 through a period of time-corresponding to about the revolution of the cam 25. The arcs presented by the sections 2) and d, representing the periods of time between disengagement of contact 24 from contact 21 and engagement of contact 28 with contact 29, each corresponds to /6 of the time of revolution of the cam 25. In association with the switch S there is a manually operated gang switch G having switch sections The rightward terminal of coil M of autotransformer 9 is connected by conductor 23 to 4 moving contact 24 of the switch S, and theop- 28 of the switch S with the fourth contact of switch section 32, and conductor means 31 connects contact 21 of switch S with the first and second contacts of switch section 32. The third contact of switch section 32 is connected by conductor means 10 with the outer or rightward terminal of winding E5 of the autotransformer 9.

The moving contacts of the switch sections 30 and 3| are connected through conductor means 35 with a conductor 40 which leads into the left oscillator section 3 of the device. The moving contact of switch section 32 and stationary contacts I, 3 and 4 of switch section 3| are connected through conductor means 36 with a conductor 4| leading into the oscillator section 4 of the device. Glow lamps 58 and 69 are provided for showing when the conductors 4|] and 4| are energized. One terminal of each of these glow lamps 68 and 55 is connected to a conductor 4!] and 4| respectively, and the remaining terminals thereof are connected through a conductor 1| and a resistor 61 which connects with conductor leading to the outer terminal of the transformer coil I5.

I am able to produce the wave form which is a valuable characteristic of my device by the manner of connecting and relating the plate and grid circuits of the triodes l5 and ii. The plate circuit of triode it has a primary winding 38 which is connected to the conductor 46, and the plate circuit of triode ll has a primary winding 39 which is connected to the conductor 4|. The grid circuits 55 and 46, respectively, of the triodcs l5 and I! have therein windings 43 and 44 which are connected through a conductor 47 with the first, second and fourth stationary contacts of .the switch section 33 so that when the moving contact of switch section 33, when in first, sec- 0nd and fourth positions will connect the grid circuits with the leftward end of section M of the transformer 53 through a conductor 48, a portion of conductor 20, conductor 2| and conductor I9. The windings 38-43 and the windings 39-44 are inductively coupled through use of the magnetic field elements of transformers l5 and '16 which, in addition to serving as means for magnetically coupling the windings of the plate and grid circuits, serve a means for energizing output circuits 49, 5!! and 5| in output section 5 of the device and output circuits 52, 53, and 54 in the output section 6 of the device. These transformers l5 and 13 each have three magnetic paths or field pieces ll, 78 and 19 which come together so as to have primary portions of common extension 89. It is on these primary portions of common extension 89 that the windings 3843 and 39-44 associated respectively with the tubes l5 and H are wound, as schematically shown in the drawing. The secondary coils of the output circuits 49, 5t and 5| are respectively'wound on the secondary portions of separate field parts or cores ll, 78 and 19 of the transformer 15, and the secondary coils of the output circuits 52, 53 and 54 are separately wound on the secondary portions of the field parts or cores 11, 78 and 19 of the transformer T5. The respective output circuits supply electrical energy to their respective potentiometers 55, 56, 57, 5t, 58 and re, good results being obtained where these potentiometers have a resistance of about 2,000 ohms. By the manner of applying primary and secondary windlugs to the separate cores "ll, 18 and it, I am able to avoid change in current strength in one of the output circuits when a potentiometer of another of the output circuits is adjusted to a different value. The respective output circuits 49 to 54 inclusive are connected with pairs of outlet receptacles for sockets F5! to 65 inclusive, for connection into the respective output circuits of body electrodes, by use or flexible insulated conductors. When the switch means, shown in section 2 or the device, connects the wires til and 4! with the conductor 23, current will iiow in the plate circuit coils 38 and 39 of the multiple magnetic circuit transformers "l5 and '16, inducing a voltage into the grid circuit coils 33 and it, building up a bias in the grids of the tubes it and ii and producing a feedback which causes the circuits to oscillate and produce a current wave form which is capable of tissue stimulation and muscle contrac tion in a manner very similar to that accomplished by motor nerve impulses. By a proper balancing of the impedances of the plate and grid circuits, I am enabled to obtain a frequency of oscillation in the output currents at what I have determined to be essentially or very close to the physiological rate of nerve impulse.

The gang switch G shown diagrammatically, operates in conjunction with the switch 6 to give four arrangements of circuits for four types of stimuli comprising fastinterniittent, alternate energization, vibratory and slow intermittent. When the knob 38a is in its first position, as shown in the drawing, the moving contacts of the switch sections 39 to 33 inclusive will all engage the first stationary contacts. Then, at this time, contacts 2'! and 29 will both be connected to the conductors id and ii. As the earn rotates contact 2d will deliver current to contact 2? and then when the cam 25 moves contact 24 leftwardly, current will be delivered from contact 2 1 to contact 28 to contact 23, intermittently energizing the contacts 2? and 2? which are both connected to the conductors ll and 41']. This will produce in the oscillators of sections 3 and 4 forty surges per minute. When the knob 3% is moved to position 2, the moving contacts or the switch sections 3% to 33 inclusive will be brought into engagement with the second stationary contacts thereof. At this time, contact 2c will be connected only to conductor lil and contact 2'! will be connected only to conductor ti. Therefore, as the rotation of the cam 25 swings the contact 24 baclc and forth, the contacts 2? and 29 will be alternately connected to the conductor 23 and the plate circuits of the tubes 15 and H will be alternately connected to the conductor 23 and the three output circuits d9, 58 and 5| will be energized as a group, this being followed by energization of the output circuits 52, 53 and 5d. This is referred to as the flexion-extension relation between any one or more of the output circuits 45, 5D and 5| with relation to any one or more of the output circuits 52, 53 and 54. One of the output circuits derived from the transformer '55 may be connected to a flexor muscle or muscles and one of the output circuits derived from the transformer 16 may be connected to an extenscr muscle or muscles, with the result that back and forth movement of a bodily part is accomplished. When knob 30a is turned to position 3 thereof, the mov-- ing contacts of the switch sections 30 to 33 inclusive will engage the third stationary contacts thereof and conductors to and 4! will be connected by the switch sections 3| and 32 with conductor 10. Also, switch section 33 will connect the filaments of the tubes it and H with the conductor It through a resistor 74 and conductor 48. The plate circuit voltage will now be derived from coils Id and I5 of the transformer d, and a condenser 12 with bleed 13 are connected between conductor 48 and the conductor 4? leading to the grid circuit windings 2-3 and Current increasing in plate coils 88 and 39 induces a voltage in the grid coils 13 and 44 respectively and a charging of the condenser 42 occurs. With each swing of oscillation in the oscillators, the condenser 12 charges up to a greater value so that the grid bias voltage furnished by the condenser reaches a value to cut off the tubes and stop oscillation. Then condenser 72 discharges through resistance 13, since the grid coil is no longer generating a charging voltage because of the blocking off of the plate current. As soon as the grid bias lowers sufficiently, a plate current again starts to build up, but oscillation lasts for only a few swings, as induced voltage in the grid circuit charges up condenser to block the tubes again. The result of the foregoing is to provide electrical impulses of a characteristic wave form and frequency, evidenced by a feeling of vibration when this current is applied to bodily parts. During the supply of this vibratory current the neon lamps glow continuously, but in the other settings of the knob Sta the neon indicator lamps glow only when there is current flow in the conductors ii: and ti.

When knob 39a is turned to position 4, the moving contacts of the switch sections Elli to 33 inclusive engage the fourth stationary contacts thereof, and switch sections 3! and 32 now act to connect both conductors All and ll to switch contact 28, and the supply of plate current is now controlled entirely by contacts 24 and 25. If the cam 25 rotates at a rate of 26 R. P. 1%., causing contact 2 3 to engage contact at this same frequency, periods of rest between the periods of energization will be substantially equal in time value. This is the slow surge or impulse rate embraced in the present embodiment of the inven" tion.

I claim:

1. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source of electrical potential: a timing switch comprising a cam and motor means to rotate the same, movable contact means adapted to be connected to said source of electrical potential and arranged to be moved back and forth as the result of rotation of said cam, a first contact arranged to be connected to said contact means when said contact means is moved back, and second and third contacts ar ranged to be sequentially connected to said moving contact means when said moving contact means is moved forth; a pair of tubes each having a plate, a cathode and a. grid; transformer means associated with each of said tubes, each of said transformer means comprising a plurality of cores having portions of common extension, a grid circuit having a winding on said portions of common extension, a plate circuit having a winding on said portions of common extension, and separate output windings on said cores; and adiustable switch means operative to connect said first contact with the plate circuit or one of said tubes and the third contact with the plate circuit of the other of said tubes, operative to connect said first and third contacts with both of said plate circuits, operative to connect only said second contact to both of said plate circuits, and operative to connect both of said plate circuits directly to a source of electrical potential and connect a condenser in series with said grid circuit.

2. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source of electrical potential; a timing switch comprising a cam and motor means to rotate the same, movable contact means adapted to be connected to said source of electrical potential and arranged to be moved back and forth as the result of rotation of said cam, a first contact arranged to be connected to said contact means when said contact means is moved back, and second and third contacts arranged to be sequentially connected to said moving contact means when said moving contact means is moved forth; a pair of tubes each having a plate, a cathode and a grid; transformer means associated with each of said tubes, each of said transformer means comprising a plurality of cores having portions of common extension, a grid circuit having a winding on said portions of com-- mon extension, a plate circuit having a winding on said portions of common extension, and separate output windings on said cores; andadjustable switch means operative to connect said first contact with the plate circuit of one of said tubes and the third contact with the plate circuit of the other of said tubes, operative to connect said first and third contacts with both of said plate circuits, and operative to connect only said second contact to both of said late circuits.

3. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source of electrical potential: a pair of tubes each having a plate, a cathode and a grid; transformer means connected with each of said tubes, each of said transformer means comprising a plurality of cores having primary portions of common extension and separate secondary portions, a grid circuit having a winding on said portions of common extension, a plate circuit having a winding on said portions of common extension, and separate output windings on said secondary portions of said cores; a power driven member and switch means operative by said power driven member and being adapted to intermittently connect said plate circuits simultaneously to said source of electrical potential, and to connect said plate circuits intermittently and alternately to said source of electrical potential 4. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source of electrical potential: a pair of tubes each having a plate, a cathode and a grid; transformer means connected with each of said tubes, each of said transformer means comprising a plurality of cores having primary portions of common extension and separate secondary portions, a grid circuit having a winding on said portions of common extension, a plate circuit having a winding on said portions of common extension, and separate output windings on said secondary portions of said cores; 2. power driven member; and switch means operative by said power driven member and being adapted to connect said plate circuits intermittently and alternately to said source of electrical potential.

5. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source of electrical potential: a timing switch comprising a cam and motor means to rotate the same, movable contact means adapted to be connected to said source of electrical potential and arranged to be moved back and forth as the result of rotation of said cam, a first contact arranged to be connected to said contact means when said contact means is moved back, and second and third contacts arranged to be sequentially connected to said moving contact means when said moving contact means is moved forth; a pair of oscillator means each comprising a tube having a plate, a cathode and a grid, a plate circuit and a grid circuit; output circuits coupled to said oscillator means; and adjustable switch means operative to connect said first contact with the plate circuit of one of said tubes and the third contact with the plate circuit of the other of said tubes, operative to connect said first and third contacts with both of said plate circuits, operative to connect only said second contact to both of said plate circuits, and operative to connect both of said plate circuits directly to a source of electrical potential and connect a condenser in series with said grid circuit.

6. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source or" electrical potential: a timing switch comprising a cam and motor means to rotate the same, movable contact means adapted to be connected to said source of electrical potential and arranged to be moved back and forth as the result of rotation of said cam, a first contact arranged to be connected to said contact means when said contact means is moved back, and second and third contact arranged to be sequentially connected to said moving contact means when said moving contact means is moved forth; a pair of oscillator means each comprising a tube having a plate, a cathode and a grid, a plate circuit and a grid circuit; output circuits coupled to said oscillator means; and adjustable switch means operative to connect said first contact with the plate circuit of one of said tubes and the third contact with the plate circuit of the other of said tubes, operative to connect said first and third contacts with both of said plate circuits, and operative to connect only said second contact to both of said plate circuits.

'7. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source of electrical potential: a pair of oscillator means each comprising a tube having a plate, a cathode and a grid, a plate circuit and a grid circuit; output circuits coupled to said oscillator means a power driven member; and switch means operative by said power driven member and being adapted to intermittently connect said plate circuits simultaneously to said source of electrical potential, and to intermittently connect said plate circuits alternately to said source of electrical potential.

8. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source of electrical potential: a pair of oscillator means each comprising a tube having a plate, a cathode and a grid, a plate circuit and a grid circuit; output circuits coupled to said oscillator means; a power driven member; and switch means operative by said power driven member and bein adapted to connect said plate circuits intermittently and alternately to said source of electrical potential.

9. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source of electrical potential: an electronic tube having a plate, a cathode and a grid; a plurality of transformer cores arranged so that they will have portions of common extension; a plate circuit for said tube connecting the plate and cathode of said tube and having a winding on said portions of common extension of said cores; a grid circuit for said tube connecting the cathode and grid of said tube and having a winding on said portions of common extension; separate output circuits having windings on separate of said cores; and switch and conductor means adapted to energize said plate circuit from said source of electrical potential.

10. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source of electrical potential: an electronic tube having a plate, a cathode and a grid; a plurality of transformer cores each comprising a primary portion and a secondary portion; plate and grid circuits for said tube both having windings on said primary portions of said cores whereby magnetic flux will be produced in all of said cores; separate output circuits having windings on separate secondary portions of said cores; and switch and conductor means adapted to energize said plate circuit from said source of electrical potential.

11. In a device for electrical treatment, utilizing electrical energy from a source of electrical potential: an electronic tube having a plate, a cathode and a grid; a plurality of transformer cores each having a primary portion and a secondary portion; a grid circuit for said tube having a conductor wound about the primary portion of each of said cores; a plate circuit for said tube having a conductor wound about the primary portion of each of said cores; separate output circuits having windings on the secondary portions on each of said cores; and switch and conductor means adapted to energize said plate circuit from said source of electrical potential.

12. In an electrical device for exercisin human musculature in flexion-extension relation: a pair or" output circuits having outlet means for connecting one of said circuits in series with a fiexor muscle and the other of said circuits in series with an extensor muscle opposite said fiexor muscle, oscillator means for generating, when energized,

musculature contracting currents in said output circuits, means adapted to connect said oscillator means to a source of electrical potential, switch means connected to said oscillator means and being operative to effect delivery of musculature contracting currents from said oscillator means alternately to said output circuits and power driven means connected to said switch means for continuously operating said switch means whereby said flexor muscle and said extensor muscle are alternately contracted by said contracting currents to exercise the musculature.

13. In an electrical device for treating human tissues in fiexion-extension relation, from a source of electrical potential: a pair of output circuits having electrode means for connecting said circuits in series with selected portions of the body; and means for alternately flowing contractile current through said circuits comprising oscillator means comprising an electronic tube means having a plate, grid and cathode, a transformer core means, plate and grid circuits for said tube means, each having a winding on said transformer core means and an output winding on said transformer core means connected to said output circuits, said oscillator means being adapted when energized to deliver contractile current to said ouput circuits, means adapted to connect said oscillator means to said source of electrical potential, and alternating switch means connected to said oscillator means and being operative to effect delivery of contractile current from said oscillator means alternately to said output circuits.

WILLIAM J. BROWNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,012,326 Campbell Dec. 19, 1911 1,679,487 Meyer Aug. 7, 1928 1,752,632 De Beaumont Apr. 1, 1930 2,099,511 Caesar Nov. 16, 1937 2,105,568 Webster Jan. 18, 1938 

